Brain mechanical markers to find and guide treatment for normal pressure hydrocephalus
Official title: Biophysically inspired mechanical biomarkers of normal pressure hydrocephalus
Funded at Mayo Clinic Rochester · NIH-11306590 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project uses a special MRI that measures brain stiffness to help people with normal pressure hydrocephalus get a clearer diagnosis and better predict who will improve after a shunt.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Mayo Clinic Rochester NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Rochester, United States) |
| Project start | May 15, 2024 |
| Project end | February 28, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $403,500 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AG081584-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11306590 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults being evaluated for normal pressure hydrocephalus symptoms or being considered for shunt surgery would be the ideal candidates.
✕Less likely to help
People whose cognitive problems are due to other irreversible neurodegenerative diseases without NPH features may not benefit from this approach.
What this research studies
You would have a noninvasive MRI scan called magnetic resonance elastography (MRE) that measures how the brain moves and how 'stiff' it is. The research team will compare these mechanical measurements in people with NPH, people with Alzheimer’s symptoms, and healthy older adults to look for distinct patterns. They will refine the imaging and analysis so the scans give clearer signals about who is likely to benefit from ventriculoperitoneal shunting. The goal is to make the test accurate enough to help doctors decide on surgery and avoid ineffective procedures.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could help more people with treatable NPH get the right diagnosis and avoid unnecessary or ineffective shunt surgeries.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work shows MRE can distinguish NPH from healthy volunteers and from Alzheimer’s clinical syndrome, but using it to reliably predict shunt outcomes is still new and being developed.
Where this research is happening
-
Mayo Clinic Rochester
Rochester, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Murphy, Matthew Christopher — Mayo Clinic Rochester
- Study coordinator: Murphy, Matthew Christopher
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.